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Produce handling equipment with air ejection

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-12-10
COLOR VISION SYST
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided produce sorting equipment comprising a conveyor driving a plurality of carriers spaced along the conveyor to support a single produce between adjacent carriers, at least one exit conveyor positioned above the carriers, an air distribution sprocket positioned below at least two of the carriers, the sprocket being rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the conveyin

Problems solved by technology

A major problem with cherry or grape tomatoes is the occurrence of splitting.
This process is highly labour intensive and thus expensive and, over time, the efficiency of the personnel deteriorates.

Method used

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  • Produce handling equipment with air ejection
  • Produce handling equipment with air ejection
  • Produce handling equipment with air ejection

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0018]The produce handling equipment illustrated in the accompanying drawings is specifically designed for use with cherry or grape tomatoes. However it is understood that this invention relates to a wide range of produce that has to be graded and sorted on the understanding that an air current can be used to eject the produce from the equipment.

[0019]As shown in FIG. 1, the fruit handling equipment 10 or grader comprises an endless chain driven conveyor 11 that is supported between spaced drive sprockets 12, 13 mounted on a frame 15. The conveyor 11 comprises a plurality of plastics rollers 20 coaxially mounted on shafts 21 that extend in a parallel spaced array across the conveyor 11. The shafts 21 and rollers 20 are driven in a continuous loop to define the conveying surface.

[0020]In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, sixteen rollers 20 are positioned on each shaft 21 thereby defining sixteen lanes of fruit.

[0021]As shown in FIG. 4, each roller 20 is defined by the outer cylindrical...

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PUM

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Abstract

Produce sorting equipment comprising: a conveyor driving a plurality of carriers spaced along the conveyor to support a single produce between adjacent carriers; at least one exit conveyor positioned above the carriers; an air distribution sprocket positioned below at least two adjacent carriers, the sprocket being rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveyor; the sprocket having a plurality of radial arms that terminate below the carriers; each arm including an air conduit; and means to control air flow along each air conduit; whereby as the sprocket rotates each arm passes underneath the carriers and an air blast via the conduit propels the produce supported by adjacent carriers up and off the carriers to fall onto the exit conveyor.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to produce handling and sorting equipment and in particular fruit handling equipment.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]In conventional fruit handling equipment the fruit is transported along a conveyor and rotated past a photographic zone where the fruit is photographed and often weighed. The fruit is then ejected from the conveyor in response to signals emanating from a computer that analyses the photographic images of the fruit to determine size, colour, weight, blemish and like parameters. This equipment usually has means activated by the computer to cause fruit to be selectively ejected off the side of the conveyor for collection in appropriately positioned bins.[0003]In some fruit handling equipment the fruit is transported in parallel rows. However the number and spacing of these rows is determined by the need to eject the fruit from the side.[0004]With small fruit such as cherry or grape tomatoes there is a need for compact an...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B07C5/342G06F7/00
CPCB07C5/342B65G2201/0211B65G47/525B07C5/363
Inventor MADDEN, IAN ROBERT
Owner COLOR VISION SYST